Problems related to the wax crystallization and deposition occurs in all sectors of oil production and affect the efficiency of the processes involved and entail a substantial cost for control and remediation of wax deposits. The polymer addition, such as polymethacrylates, polyacrylates, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymers, for inhibitor the formation of the deposits are examples of used treatments. The mechanisms most accepted for the performance of inhibitors are: modification of crystals, polynucleation, and the reduction of the tendency of the crystals to attach to metal surfaces or a combination of one or more than these mechanisms. No inhibitor is universally effective, and therefore the use of a wax inhibitor always requires a selection process for the type of oil in question and a set of experiments under operating conditions.
展开▼